Zipper fastener structure



June 2, 1964 J. E. BURBANK ZIPPER FASTENER STRUCTURE Filed May 31, 1963United States Patent 3,135,636 ZIPPER FASTENER STRUQTUR John E. Burbank,Middlehury, (Ionrr, assignor to Seovill Manufacturing Company,Waterbury, (Ionn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 31, 1963, Ser.No. 284,5d2 3 Claims. (ill. 24-2051) My invention relates to zipperfastener structures of the type employing a plastic filament, preferablyof the flattened coil type.

The general object is to improve the securement of the coil structure toa plain textile supporting tape.

A further object is to secure the coil to the tape in such a way thatthe coil is well shielded, not only on both sides, but along the inneredges, and to accomplish this without the use of specially shaped tapesor without the use of more than one tape.

Another object is to provide a zipper fastener structure of the kinddescribed wherein the flanges of the slider will not bear directlyagainst the plastic filament, but rather ride over a portion of thefabric supporting tape.

Other objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will morefully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration,one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In thedrawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a complete zipper according to myinvention with portions broken away to facilitate illustration;

FIG. 2 is a back View on an enlarged scale of one stringer of thezipper;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the stringers;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale through one of thestringers; and,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the completed fastener on line 5-5 ofFIG. 1.

Each stringer of the fastener structure utilizes a plastic filamenthaving a generally flattened coil shape, the individual filaments beingdesignated 6 and having inner edge portions '7 and head portions 8 alongthe outer edge.

Extending through each such coil is a filler cord 9 which is preferablya flattened textile cord occupying the greater part of the space in thecoil but not extending close enough to the heads 8 to interfere with theinterlocking of the heads of one stringer with those of a matingstringer.

The supporting tapes, generally designated 1%, each consists merely of aplain textile tape which is woven flat. In the finished structure, eachtape has its outer edge portion 11 overlapping one side of the coilwhich is preferably the front side. The outer edge of the tape extendsto a zone beyond the filler cord 9. The tape then turns around the inneredge of the coil forming a wear section 12 and then extends laterally toform a free portion 13 by which the fastener structure can be secured toan article of clothing or the like.

The means for securing the coil structure to the tape and for holdingthe tape in the shape which has been described, includes a first line ofstitching 14 along the outer edge which extends through the edge portion11 of the tape through the coil between the convolutions thereof to theother side. A second line of stitching 15 is spaced a slight distanceaway from the coil and penetrates only the tape itself and not the coilor cord. These stitches may be mutually interlocking chain stitches orthey may be interconnected by a third thread 16 which crosses back andforth on the underside of the coil to connect the loops 17 of the needlethread 14 and the loops 18 of the needle thread 15. This is a standardform of stitching shown as Patented June 2, 1964 Stitch Type 402 in Fed.Std. No. 751, entitled Stitches, Seams & Stitchings, so that it need notbe further described in detail. The important thing to note however, isthat this type of stitching employed in the manner shown, provides acovering effect or shield to the back side of the coil.

Another important factor is to maintain this stitching, and especiallythe thread 15, under sufficient tension to draw the tape around theinner edge of the coil as shown, so as to provide the wear section 12against which the flanges of the slider may ride. The slider itself isgenerally designated by the numeral 20 and the flanges as seen in FIGS.1 and 5, are designated 21.

One advantage of my improved construction is that it reduces thedifiiculty in sewing as compared to a structure requiring a plurality ofneedles to be passed through the coil. In making the present structure,only one needle passes through the coil while the other is completelyoutside the coil, thus avoiding crowding of the needles with the coilfilament. Preferably, the outer line of stitching 14 goes around thecord 9, but if desired, it could be made to penetrate the cord.

As a result of the invention, it will be evident that an improved zipperfastener structure has been made possible and one which can bemanufactured economically. The plastic filament is protected not only onboth sides, but also around the inner edge leaving only the interlockinghead portions exposed, and even they need not be exposed when thefastener is closed, as seen in FIG. 1. This is all accomplished withoutany extra tapes or specially shaped tapes, and only by the use of asingle stitching operation.

What I claim is:

1. A zipper fastener structure comprising (a) a plastic filament coil;

(b) a cord extending axially through the convolutions of said coil;

(0) a flexible support tape, one edge portion of which overlaps one sideof said coil; and,

(d) securing means including a first line of stitching passing throughsaid tape edge portion and through said coil between the convolutionsthereof, and a second line of stitching passing through said tape andbeing spaced slightly away from said coil;

(c) said lines of stitching being interconnected on the side of the coilopposite the overlapping tape portion and being maintained undersuflicient tension to pull the tape around the inner edge of said coilout of the general plane of said overlapping edge portion.

2. A zipper fastener structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said firstline of stitching passes through the coil between the cord and outeredge portion of the coil.

3. A zipper fastener structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the threadsforming said lines of stitching are connected on the back side of thecoil by a third thread which crosses the coil of a plurality of timesfor each stitch so as to provide a covering effect for the back side ofthe coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,060,830 Silberman Nov. 17,1936 2,067,734 Silberman Jan. 12, 1937FOREIGN PATENTS 498,008 Belgium Jan. 2, 1951 1,102,670 Germany Mal. 23,1961

1. A ZIPPER FASTENER STRUCTURE COMPRISING (A) A PLASTIC FILAMENT COIL; (B) A CORD EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH THE CONVOLUTIONS OF SAID COIL; (C) A FLEXIBLE SUPPORT TAPE, ONE EDGE PORTION OF WHICH OVERLAPS ONE SIDE OF SAID COIL; AND, (D) SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST LINE OF STITCHING PASSING THROUGH SAID TAPE EDGE PORTION AND THROUGH SAID COIL BETWEEN THE CONVOLUTIONS THEREOF, AND A SECOND LINE OF STITCHING PASSING THROUGH SAID TAPE AND BEING SPACED SLIGHTLY AWAY FROM SAID COIL; (E) SAID LINES OF STITCHING BEING INTERCONNECTED ON THE SIDE OF THE COIL OPPOSITE THE OVERLAPPING TAPE PORTION AND BEING MAINTAINED UNDER SUFFICIENT TENSION TO PULL THE TAPE AROUND THE INNER EDGE OF SAID COIL OUT OF THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID OVERLAPPING EDGE PORTION. 